While the right to talk may be the beginning of freedom,
the necessity of listening is what makes the right important.
Walter Lippmann
"President for Life" Chavez is Done
A First Step Towards Economic Renewal in Venezuela
A New Day, More Prosperous Future For South America
New JOTY Nominee: Jose Serrano (D-NY)
Why is it I'm always having to write about yet another clueless New York politician? Is there something in the water? This particular piece of work was used by Chavez for propaganda purposes against the Bush Administration and was rewarded with subsidized oil for lower-income residents. His tweet? "Hugo Chavez was a leader that understood the needs of the poor. He was committed to empowering the powerless. R.I.P. Mr. President."
Let us be very clear: Hugo Chavez was a trouble-making, regionally-destabilizing anti-American socialist demagogue whom has looted his country's oil revenues to prop up unsustainable social programs and gain influence in the region or gullible American politicians and others, chased away foreign investment by seizing assets, failed to diversify his nation's economic dependence on oil, used oil as a cash cow (versus repairing and modernizing industry infrastructure), achieved at most mediocre economic growth compared to countries like Brazil and Colombia, recently devalued its currency by a third, had soaring budget deficits, and was responsible for inflation roughly in the neighborhood of about 20% a year, a cruel de facto tax on the poor; Venezuela's non-oil exports are in proportional decline, and food imports have soared under Chavez; a declining currency means imports cost more, adversely affecting the average Venezuelan's standard of living. He was more of an impulsive, seat-of-the-pants decision-maker whom put his own political ambition above his country's interests, desperately clinging to power on his deathbed.
"Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said in September 2012 that of the 640,000 barrels of oil a day that Venezuela exports to China, 200,000 went towards servicing the country's debt to Beijing." A third of the oil is paying off old debts, not on Venezuela's current operational (including social) programs.
I've read Serrano's follow-up statement and am not mollified. He's really putting lipstick on a pig. Venezuela does not have a US-style Constitution with robustly enforced individual rights and an independent judiciary (interested readers can see Human Rights Watch for more specifics here) How many people have forgotten that the people of Venezuela voted down his attempt to win the post of President for life?
Unlike Serrano, Carter and others whom pandered to Hugo's redistribution policies, the Obama Administration, I thought, handled a delicate situation well (yes: I'm actually making a rare compliment):
At this challenging time of President Hugo Chavez’s passing, the United States reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government. As Venezuela begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.The US knows many South Americans distrust American influence, in the region. I think the first point reflects fears of a military coup. Leftists will use a poorly worded statement as a harbinger of American intervention in South American internal matters, even a conspiracy to steal Venezuela's oilfields. Actually we are Venezuela's biggest customer, and they import a significant amount of our goods. I would have liked to see more of a call for free market and free trade principles through the Americas, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and a respect for individual rights.
Barack Obama Gaffe of the Day
"Even though most people agree that I'm being reasonable; that most people agree I'm presenting a fair deal; the fact that [Republicans] don't take [the sequester deal] means that I should somehow do a Jedi mind-meld with these folks and convince them to do what's right." --Barack ObamaObama just lost the support of every nerd in America, especially Silicon Valley. For the benefit of people whom have never tuned into SYFY: "A "mind-meld" is a technique for sharing thoughts, experiences, memories, and knowledge with another individual. Vulcans can perform mind melds with members of most other species, most notably Humans.", i.e., Star Trek. (It's clear from those ears, Obama is no Vulcan.) The Jedi are a religious warrior group in the Star Wars universe. Confusing Star Trek with Star Wars is like saying all extra-terrestrials look alike. The Force is no longer with you, Barack Obama (maybe the dark side--the Politics of Envy and Fear-Mongering (e.g., minor spending cuts).
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Steve Colbert reacts, "Republicans and nerds have so much in common. They both in fantasy worlds and have no idea how to relate to women." Versus the Democrats, whom believe ObamaCare will reduce the federal deficit and advocate "gay marriage"?
Follow-Up Odds and Ends
In yesterday's post I embedded a video from a talk by Dr. Klein, discussing alleged consumer benefits from military "investments". Dr. Klein's essay "Without the State, Who Would Invent Tang?" is this month's edition of the Free Market available here. I haven't had Tang since I was a kid; the closest I came to becoming an astronaut was writing FORTRAN programs relevant to the remote manipulator arm on a space shuttle simulator in Clear Lake City.
Actually, Dr. Klein, I wish you would have pointed out Tang was not developed for the space program but introduced to US consumers in 1959 by General Foods--and sales went nowhere until astronaut (and future senator) John Glenn used it on a 1962 flight. Talk about product placement....
If You 'Don't Know Much About History'
Go To Tom Tryniski's Website
Take a microfiche reader, some OCR software, a powerful home computer network, and a dedicated unpaid computer hobbyist, and you have a searchable website with more accessible newspaper pages and pageviews than a taxpayer-funded alternative from the Library of Congress.
Political Cartoon
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| Courtesy of Larry Wright and Townhall |
Our feminist Vice President gives women some practical advice on the Second Amendment.
President Obama's half-brother is running for office in Kenya. He's a political novice who was born and raised in Africa. I don't know much about the half-brother. - Craig Ferguson
[Races for political offices in Kenya are run differently--the start of the race is 26 miles and 385 yards away.]
Musical Interlude: My Favorite Groups
Journey, "Wheel in the Sky"
